V.O. (Version Originale) are a slightly nerdy looking sextet from Brussels led by vocalist and multi-instrumentalist Boris Gronemberger.
This their third album, recorded over a 20 day period in Chicago by Tortoise's John McEntire.
When not part of V.O., band members also moonlight on soundtracks for theatre, dance and cinema.
With instrumentation that includes vibraphone, clarinet and trumpet, their take on post-rock is vaguely reminiscent of Stereolab.
The slow, subdued and meticulously constructed quality of the tunes also has elements of Elbow or Low; it's jazzy-lounge-indie-slowcore, in other words.
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At their best, as with the muted, atmospherics of tracks such as When You See Red and Giant Steps In The Plains, the sound is sophisticated and quietly seductive.
Other tunes, like the two instrumentals and the three songs in French, reflect a more pompous, less engaging side.
All in all, it's a record that is trying just a little too hard to be cool and lacks some warmth in the process.
V.O. website (in French)
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